Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� June, 2004

Awards Ceremony to Present the Prime Minister's Commendations for Contributors to the National Greening Campaign Tuesday, June 22, 2004 An awards ceremony to present the Prime Minister's commendations for contributors to the National Greening Campaign was held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Greening is important from the perspective of the preservation of the nation's land and environment, the cultivation of water resources and the improvement of the living environment. The Prime Minister holds an awards ceremony every year to honor individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions in the implementation of the National Greening Campaign. Those who received commendations from Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi this year are four individuals, including Ms. Chieko Katsuno of Kani City, Gifu Prefecture; fourteen groups, including the Junior Greenery Club of the Honzan Elementary School in Ashio Town, Tochigi Prefecture; three schools, including Shuyo Elementary School in Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture; and three local public bodies, including Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. In his address at the ceremony, Prime Minister Koizumi said, "It is an important responsibility for us in the current generation to hand over to the future generation a society surrounded by a beautiful environment and one in which people can enjoy leading a comfortable lifestyle. The key to solving environmental issues lies right around us. Thus, it is important for each and every one of us, together with the regional society, to build up steady efforts to solve environmental issues. With the Koizumi Cabinet, I endeavor to realize through the broad support and cooperation from the people of Japan a society in coexistence with nature."